OMNIBUS FOR MORE EUROPEAN CROSS-BORDER BUS ROUTES
The International Road Transport Union just put a blueprint for regular bus and coach lines to the UN Economic Commission for Europe. The IRU says its plan, called Omnibus, will pave the way for better routes across Europe, with a common legal framework, paperwork and enforcement routines.
Over 3,000 international regular bus and coach services already offer green, safe and reliable transport at affordable prices. Sadly the bilateral agreements that cover them make getting an OK for a new scheduled international service very complicated, despite continued liberalisation. Omnibus would harmonise applications, agreements and passengers' travel papers, cut consultation times and give priority to bus and coach services at border crossings. This is the first step of the Smart Move awareness campaign, launched at the recent Busworld Europe show in Kortrijk.
